TEN  lesson: 

IN 

PERSONAL  EVANGEUSM 

JOSEPH  P.  HICKS 


..^'c.wissawMafiH! 


BV  3790  .H45  1922 
Hicks,  Joseph  P.,  1867- 
Ten  lessons  in  personal 
evangelism 


TEN  LESSONS  IN 
PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Rev.  JOSEPH  P.  HICKS,  a.m. 


Ten  Lessons  in 
Personal  Evangelism 


BY 

Rev.  JOSEPH  P.  HICKS,  a.m. 


WITH  A  FOREWORD  BY 

Rev.  mark  A.  MATTHEWS,  d.d.,  ll.d. 


NEW  XSJr  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,    1922, 
BY    GEORGE    H.    DORAN    COMPANY 


PRINTED    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA 


DEDICATION 

To  the  splendid  class  vn  Personal  Evangelism 
which  the  author  conducted  in   the  First 
Presbyterian     Church     of     Oklahoma 
City,  in    the    year   1921,    and    to 
other    classes    of    similar    char- 
acter, which  may  yet   he  con- 
ducted, is  this   volume  af- 
fectionately  dedicated. 


FOREWORD  ^ 


The  Holy  Spirit  has  but  one  program  for 
the  church,  namely,  the  program  of  evan- 
gelism. All  that  we  are  accustomed  to  in- 
clude in  our  terms,  "Home  and  Foreign 
Missions,"  is  included  in  the  word  "evan- 
gelism." 

When  Christ  said,  "Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach,"  He  meant  all  that  is 
intended  in  the  word  "evangelism." 

The  greatest  need  of  this  day  is  a  passion 
for  souls,  a  love  for  incessant  Christian 
work,  and  a  knowledge  of  how  to  do  per- 
sonal work. 

Drummond  said  we  should  "buttonhole" 
men  to  Christ.  Christ  sent  His  disciples 
out  two  by  two.  The  Holy  Spirit  sends  each 
Christian  out  with  instructions  to  make  a 
disciple  for  Christ.  It  is  impossible  for  one 
[vii] 


FOREWORD 

to  be  a  Christian  without  being  a  mission- 
ary, and,  of  course,  impossible  for  a  mis- 
sionary to  go  out  unless  he  is  a  true 
Christian.  Therefore,  each  and  every  Chris- 
tian who  is  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 
who  is  baptized  into  the  body  of  Christ  by 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  who  is  sealed  with  the 
everlasting  seal  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  in- 
structed to  do  personal,  evangelistic  work. 

It  is  the  duty  of  each  and  every  Christian 
to  lead  some  person  to  Christ  every  day. 
It  means  the  development  of  the  Christian, 
the  evangelization  of  the  world,  and  the 
preparing  of  the  body  of  Christians  for  the 
coming  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Let  me  urge  you  to  be  a  diligent  student, 
an  untiring  worker,  and  a  successful,  per- 
sonal evangelist. 

Seattle 

[viii] 


PREFACE 

In  January,  1921,  the  author  of  this  text 
book  was  invited  by  the  Pastor  and  Session 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Okla- 
homa City  to  conduct  a  School  of  Evan- 
gelism lasting  ten  consecutive  weeks.  The 
School  was  conducted  on  Wednesday  Eve- 
nings. The  ladies  of  the  church  prepared  a 
worker's  dinner  which  they  served  promptly 
at  6 :30  P.  M.  and  before  the  Prayer  Meet- 
ing, which  was  held  at  7:45  P.  M.  While 
partaking  of  the  dinner  the  people  became 
better  acquainted  and  this  added  materially, 
as  well  as  spiritually,  to  the  success  of  the 
work  of  the  teaching  period. 

More  than  two  hundred  people  attended 
the  school  at  the  close  of  which,  class  night, 
was  held,  when  Doctor  Baird,  the  Pas- 
tor, presented  the  graduates  with  their  di- 
plomas. 

[ix] 


PREFACE 

During  the  continuance  of  the  school, 
from  the  first  of  January  to  the  week  pre- 
ceding Easter,  nearly  three  hundred  new 
members  were  added  to  the  church. 

The  school  proved  so  helpful  to  the  First 
Church  of  Oklahoma  City  that  many  pastors 
throughout  the  land  made  request  that  the 
same  lessons  be  given  in  their  respective 
churches. 

When  the  Synod's  Committee  on  Evan- 
gelism met  in  Cushing,  October  5-7,  1921, 
the  Ten  Lessons  used  in  this  school  were 
commended  to  all  the  churches  throughout 
the  bounds  of  the  Oklahoma  Synod. 

After  Doctor  Baird  had  started  on  his 
journey  round  the  world  the  Author  of  this 
book  received  the  following  letter  from 
him: 

Rev.  J.  P.  Hicks, 

Oklahoma  City,  Oklahoma. 
Dear  Brother  and  Co-worker : — 

I  am  thinking  this  morning  of  our 
conferences  concerning  Him  and  His 

w 


rUEFACE 

work — all  of  which  have  been  so  pleas- 
ant, and  of  the  School  of  Evangelism 
which  you  led  for  us  last  year. 

This  school,  my  friend,  has  proven  of 
much  benefit  to  us  in  many  ways.  I 
have  had  inquiries  from  other  churches 
concerning  it  and  requests  for  your 
time  in  putting  on  such  work  in  other 
places. 

On  account  of  this  benefit  and  the 
fact  that  the  work  was  along  the  line  of 
the  New  Era — in  fact,  quite  a  little  in 
advance  of  it — I  am  greatly  in  hopes 
the  church  will  cooperate  with  you  in 
putting  on  another  such  study.  Men 
prepare  for  salesmanship  and  we  have 
schools  for  preparation  in  life's  chosen 
business.  How  fit  it  is  for  the  children 
of  light  to  prepare  for  the  work  of 
eternity.  I  trust  it  will  seem  good  to 
the  Session  and  the  people  to  cooperate 
with  you  in  this  work,  I  shall  sorely 
miss  the  privilege  of  meeting  with  you 
[xi] 


PREFACE 

at  your  dinners  and  your  Wednesday 
evening  lessons. 

I  am  speaking  to  you  now  while  on 
my  way  to  the  other  side  of  the  globe. 
We  are  not  far  apart  by  the  throne. 

May  God  bless  you  and  your  family, 
is  my  prayer. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Phil  C.  Baird. 

Any  church  desiring  it  may  use  the  les- 
sons herein  given  and  conduct  a  School  of 
Evangelism.  The  school  idea  should  run 
throughout  all  the  work.  The  first  class  to 
take  the  course  will  prove  invaluable  as  the 
Alumni  of  the  School  of  Evangelism  and 
will  help  to  bring  others  into  the  school 
from  year  to  year. 

If  through  the  pages  of  this  little  text 
book  any  one  is  led  to  become  more  inter- 
ested and  proficient  in  soul  winning  the 
[xii] 


PREFACE 

Author  will  be  doubly  repaid  for  the  work 
which  has  been  required  in  preparing  the 
book. 

J.  P.  H. 


[xiii] 


They  therefore  that  were  scattered  abroad  went 
about  preaching  the  word. — Acts  8:4- 


Go  ye  therefore,  and  make  disciples  of  all  na- 
tions, baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you :  and  lo,  I  am 
with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world— Mathew  28:19,  20. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAei 

I     Introduction: 

THE  TASK  OP  THE   CHURCH         19 

II     Lesson  One: 

PERSONAL    WORK       ...         22 

III  Lesson  Two: 

THE  PERSONAL  WORKER  .        .  30 

IV  Lesson  Three: 

SUGGESTIONS     FOR     PERSONAL 
WORKERS 35 

V    Lesson  Four: 

METHODS  OF  PERSONAL  WORK        38 

VI     Lesson  Five: 

SWARMING     BEES     FOR     PER- 
SONAL WORKERS     ...         45 

VII     Lesson  Six: 

PERSONAL     WORKER,     WHAT 

OP  THYSELF?    ....         52 

VIII     Lesson  Seven: 

THE      PERSONAL      WORKERS' 

OPPORTUNITIES       ...         57 

[xix] 


CONTENTS 

APTEE  PAGE 

IX     Lesson  Eight: 

THE      PERSONAL      WORKERS' 

TASK 65 

X     Lesson  Nine : 

THE  PERSONAL  WORKER  AND 

HIS  BIBLE 75 

XI    Lesson  Ten:  ' 

THE  PERSONAL  WORKER  AND 

HIS  PROBLEMS         ...         81 


[XX] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN 
PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 


TEN  LESSONS  IN 
PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

I 

THE  TASK  OF  THE  CHURCH 

Introdtiction 

"The  Church  has  an  abiding  and  supreme 
task  which  has  confronted  her  and  put  its 
solemn  obligation  upon  her  in  every  age. 
This  task  is  to  bring  sinful  men  to  accept 
the  mercy  and  forgiveness  of  God  with 
reconciliation  to  Him  and  newness  and  full- 
ness of  life  in  Him.  Whatever  else  the 
Church  fails  to  do,  she  must  not  fail  in  this. 
The  Church  was  born  in  the  evangelistic 
and  missionary  fervor  of  the  first  Christians. 
They  had  experienced  forgiveness  and  the 
joy  of  reconciliation  which  they  had  sought 
in  vain  through  certain  rites  and  ceremonies. 
[19] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGEUSM 

They  experienced  a  newness  and  fullness  of 
life,  which  they  were  right  in  attributing 
to  the  presence  and  power  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  which  dwelt  richly  in  them.  About 
this  great  discovery,  they  could  not  refrain 
from  telling  others.  They  went  everywhere 
proclaiming  this  and  gathered  into 
Churches  and  those  Churches  became  cen- 
ters of  evangelistic  and  missonary  effort. 
They  were  witnessing,  winning,  converting 
Churches.  Men  were  won,  almost,  in  spite 
of  themselves.  They  were  saved  from  sin 
to  the  new  life.  There  have  been  since  those 
first  years  many  periods  of  decline  and  in- 
activity, of  worldliness,  of  spiritual  power- 
lessness,  of  hopelessness  accompanied  by  a 
feeling  bordering  on  despair.  These  times 
have  come  when  this  primary  abiding  task 
of  the  Church  was  forgotten  or  neglected. 
The  neglect  of  the  real  task  of  the  Church  is 
always  disastrous  and  fatal.  The  Church 
may  go  on  in  a  fair-seeming  way,  its  great 
temples  and  cathe<lrals  and  its  stately  serv- 
[20] 


THE    TASK   OP    THE    CHURCH 

ices  may  preseut  an  appearance  of  impres- 
siveness,  but  if  it  is  not  touching  the  spir- 
itual lives  of  men  with  saving  power  and 
renewing  grace  it  is  all  unavailing.  The 
apostolic  method  of  evangelization  has 
never  been  improved.  It  was  the  successful 
method  of  the  early  Church.  The  members 
of  the  Churcli  went  eveiywhere  proclaiming 
Christ  to  sinful  men.  This  is  the  task  of  the 
Church  to-day.  That  Christians  may  be 
trained  for  this  task  this  book  is  edited  and 
compiled  and  given  to  the  Church.  The  au- 
thor acknowledges  help  from  many  sources. 
Any  one  who  takes  the  time  to  read  the 
scriptural  references,  alone,  will  find  an  in- 
spiration to  go  into  all  the  world  and  pro- 
claim Christ.  This  is  your  task.  This  is 
my  task." 


[21] 


II 

PERSONAL  WORK 

Lesson  One 

The  first  thing  that  impresses  us  in  the 
study  of  this  theme  is  the  great  number  of 
scriptural  references  which  directly  refer 
to  personal  endeavor.  If  personal  work  is 
emphasized  by  the  teachings  of  the  Bible, 
no  Christian  should  excuse  liimself  from 
the  task. 

LABORERS  IN  THE  VINEYARD 

"For  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  like  unto 
a  man  that  is  an  householder,  who  went 
out  early  in  the  morning  to  hire  laborers 
into  his  vineyard.  And  when  he  had  agreed 
with  the  laborers  for  a  shilling  a  day,  he 
sent  them  into  his  vineyard.  And  he  went 
out  about  the  third  hour,  and  saw  others 
[22] 


PERSONAL   WORK 

standing  in  the  marketplace  idle;  and  to 
them  he  said,  Go  ye  also  into  the  vineyard, 
and  whatsoever  is  right  I  will  give  you. 
And  they  went  their  way.  Again  he  went 
out  about  the  sixth  and  the  ninth  hour,  and 
did  likewise.  And  about  the  eleventh  hour 
he  went  out,  and  found  others  standing; 
and  he  saith  unto  them.  Why  stand  ye  here 
all  the  day  idle?  They  say  unto  him,  Be- 
cause no  man  hath  hired  us.  He  saith  unto 
them.  Go  ye  also  into  the  vineyard.  And 
when  even  was  come,  the  lord  of  the  vine- 
yard saith  unto  his  steward.  Call  the  labor- 
ers, and  pay  them  their  hire,  beginning 
from  the  last  unto  the  first.  And  when  they 
came  that  were  hired  about  the  eleventh 
hour,  they  received  every  man  a  shilling. 
And  when  the  first  came,  they  supposed 
that  they  would  receive  more ;  and  they  like- 
wise received  every  man  a  shilling.  And 
when  they  received  it,  they  murmured 
against  the  householder,  saying.  These  last 
have  spent  but  one  hour,  and  thou  hast 
[23] 


TEN   LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

made  them  equal  unto  us,  who  have  borne 
the  burden  of  the  day  and  the  scorching 
heat.  But  he  answered  and  said  to  one  of 
them,  Friend,  I  do  thee  no  wrong;  didst 
not  thou  agree  with  me  for  a  shilling? 
Take  up  that  which  is  thine,  and  go  thy 
way;  it  is  my  will  to  give  unto  this  last, 
even  as  unto  thee.  Is  it  not  lawful  for  me 
to  do  what  I  will  with  mine  own?  Or  is 
thine  eye  evil,  because  I  am  good?  So 
the  last  shall  be  first,  and  the  first  last." 
Matthew  20:1-16. 

"Again  on  the  morrow  John  was  stand- 
ing, and  two  of  his  disciples ;  and  he  looked 
upon  Jesus  as  he  walked,  and  saith.  Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God!  And  the  two  disciples 
heard  him  speak,  and  they  followed  Jesus. 
And  Jesus  turned,  and  beheld  them  follow- 
ing, and  saith  unto  them,  What  seek  ye? 
And  they  said  unto  him.  Rabbi  (which  is 
to  say,  being  interpreted,  Teacher),  where 
abidest  thou?  He  saith  unto  them,  Come, 
and  ye  shall  see.  They  came  therefore  and 
[24] 


PERSONAL   WORK 

saw  where  lie  abode;  and  they  abode  with 
him  that  day;  it  was  about  the  tenth  hour. 
One  of  the  two  that  heard  John  speak,  and 
followed  him,  was  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
brother.  He  findeth  first  his  own  brother 
Simon,  and  saith  unto  him.  We  have  found 
the  Messiah  (which  is,  being  interpreted, 
Christ).  He  brought  him  unto  Jesus. 
Jesus  looked  upon  him,  and  said,  Thou  art 
Simon  the  son  of  John ;  thou  shalt  be  called 
Cephas  (which  is  by  interpretation,  Peter) ." 
Johnl:So-It2. 

"I  must  work  the  works  of  him  that  sent 
me,  while  it  is  day ;  the  night  cometh,  when 
no  man  can  work."     John  9:4- 

"And  he  suffered  him  not,  but  saith  unto 
him.  Go  to  thy  house  unto  thy  friends,  and 
tell  them  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath 
done  for  thee,  and  how  he  had  mercy  on 
thee.  And  he  went  his  way,  and  began  to 
publish  in  Decapolis  how  great  things 
Jesus  had  done  for  him ;  and  all  men  mar- 
velled." Mark  5:19-20. 
[25] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

"Jesus  said  unto  Simon,  Fear  not;  from 
henceforth  thou  shalt  catch  men.  And 
when  they  had  brought  their  boats  to  land, 
they  left  all,  and  followed  him."  Luke 
5:10-11. 

"Now  Peter  and  John  were  going  up  into 
the  temple  at  the  hour  of  prayer,  being  the 
ninth  hour.  And  a  certain  man  that  was 
lame  from  his  mother's  womb  was  carried, 
whom  they  laid  daily  at  the  door  of  the  tem- 
ple which  is  called  Beautiful,  to  ask  alms 
of  them  that  entered  into  the  temple;  who 
seeing  Peter  and  John  about  to  go  into  the 
temple,  asked  to  receive  an  alms.  And  Pe- 
ter, fastening  his  eyes  upon  him,  with  John, 
said,  Look  on  us.  And  he  gave  heed  unto 
them,  expecting  to  receive  something  from 
fhem.  But  Peter  said.  Silver  and  gold  have 
I  none;  but  what  I  have,  that  give  I  thee. 
In  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth, 
walk.  And  he  took  him  by  the  right  hand, 
and  raised  him  up ;  and  immediately  his  feet 
and  his  ankle-bones  received  strength.  And 
[26] 


PERSONAL   WORK 

leaping  up,  he  stood,  and  began  to  walk; 
and  he  entered  with  them  into  the  temple, 
w^alking  and  leaping,  and  praising  God. 
And  all  the  people  saw  him  walking  and 
praising  God;  and  they  took  knowledge  of 
him,  that  it  was  he  that  sat  for  alms  at  the 
Beautiful  Gate  of  the  temple ;  and  they  were 
filled  with  wonder  and  amazement  at  that 
which  had  happened  unto  him."  Acts  3:1- 
10. 

In  addition  to  all  the  array  of  scripture, 
which  specifically  encourages  every  one  to 
do  personal  work  we  have  the  example  of 
Christ  as  he  dealt  personally  with  Nico- 
demus,  and  the  disciples,  who  were  diligent 
to  bring  others  under  the  influence  of  Jesus 
when  He  was  living  here  among  men. 

It  is  the  privilege  as  well  as  the  obliga- 
tion of  every  saved  individual  to  engage  in 
personal  work. 

If  you  are  saved  yourself,  help  some  one 
else  into  the  kingdom. 
[27] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Personal  work  is  not  difficult.  It  is  easy. 
Listen,  "My  yoke  is  easy." 

Personal  work  is  practical.  It  is  the 
pride  of  the  business  man  to  meet  his  fel- 
lowman  and  talk  to  him  about  his  business 
and  if  possible  to  make  out  of  him  a  cus- 
tomer. 

Social  activities  make  it  obligatory. 
Education  demands  it.  The  politician  is 
a  diligent  personal  worker.  This  is  the 
process  by  which  he  climbs  into  office, 
usually. 

What  is  profitable  in  these  different  de- 
partments of  life  is  also  profitable  with  the 
Christian.  The  Christian  should  do  per- 
sonal work  only  after  much  prayer.  The 
record  is  that  Paul  and  Silas,  two  of  the 
greatest  personal  workers  known  in  their 
time,  prayed  all  night,  and  then  were  pre- 
pared to  tell  the  terrified  jailer  what  to  do 
to  be  saved. 

The  successful  soul  winners  of  all  time 
have  been  men  and  women  of  much  prayer. 
[28] 


PERSONAL   WORK 

John  Knox  often  spent  the  whole  night  in 
prayer.  Martin  Luther  spent  three  hours 
in  prayer  each  day.  Soul  winner,  do  not 
attempt  to  lead  men  and  women  into  the 
light  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  until  you  have 
spent  much  time  in  prayer  to  God  for 
guidance. 


[29] 


Ill 

THE    PERSONAL    WORKER 

Lesson  Two 

To  bring  others  into  right  relationship 
with  Jesus  Christ  is  a  task  that  angels  might 
well  covet.  The  large  majority  of  us  are 
unable  to  sway  the  multitudes  by  our  elo- 
quence; but  we  can  tell  individuals  with 
whom  we  associate  day  by  day  of  the  sav- 
ing and  renewing  power  of  Christ.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  said,  "The  longer  I  live,  the 
more  confidence  I  have  in  those  sermons 
preached  where  one  man  is  the  minister 
and  one  man  is  the  congregation;  where 
there  is  no  question  as  to  who  is  meant  when 
the  preacher  says,  "Thou  art  the  Man."  In 
the  work  of  the  Kingdom  there  is  a  task 
for  those  who  can  sway  the  multitudes  by 
their  eloquent  sermons  and  there  is  a  task 
[30] 


THE  PERSONAL  WORKER 

for  the  individual  who  can  lead  one  indi- 
vidual to  accept  Christ.  This  is  the  Bible 
way  of  evangelism  as  set  forth  in  the  first 
chapter  of  the  gospel  by  St.  John. 

There  is  a  wonderful  array  of  scripture 
setting  forth  the  work  of  the  personal 
evangelist.  We  give  some  of  the  passages 
for  the  prayerful  consideration  of  the  stu- 
dent; these  and  similar  passages  should  be 
committed  to  memory  for  use  when  the  ac- 
tual work  is  begun. 

"Say  not  ye,  There  are  yet  four  months, 
and  then  cometh  the  harvest?  Behold,  I 
say  unto  you,  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look 
on  the  fields;  that  they  are  white  already 
unto  harvest.  He  that  reapeth  receiveth 
wages,  and  gathereth  fruit  unto  life  etemal ; 
that  both  he  that  soweth  and  he  that  reap- 
eth may  rejoice  together."     John  4'S5-36. 

"I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches;  he 
that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same 
beareth  much  fruit;  for  apart  from  me  ye 
can  do  nothing."     John  15:5. 
[31] 


TEN  LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL   EVANGELLSM 

"And  they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the 
brightness  of  the  firmament;  and  they  that 
turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  for 
ever  and  ever."    Daniel  12:3. 

"Let  no  man  despise  tliy  youth;  but  be 
thou  an  ensample  to  them  that  believe,  in 
word,  in  manner  of  life,  in  love,  in  faith, 
in  purity.  Till  I  come  give  heed  to  reading, 
to  exhortation,  to  teaching."  /  Timothy 
4:12-13. 

"Let  no  corrupt  speech  proceed  out  of 
your  mouth,  but  such  as  is  good  for  edify- 
ing as  the  need  may  be,  that  it  may  give 
grace  to  them  that  hear.  And  grieve  not 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  in  whom  ye  were 
sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption."  Eph. 
4:29-30. 

"I  beseech  you  therefore  brethren,  by  the 
mercies  of  God,  to  present  your  bodies  a 
living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God, 
which  is  your  spiritual  service.  And  be  not 
fashioned  according  to  this  world ;  but  be 
ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your 
[32] 


THE    PERSONAL    WORKER 

mind,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is  the  good 
ami  acceptable  and  perfect  will  of  God." 
Romans  12:1-2. 

"Give  diligence,  to  present  thyself  ap- 
proved of  God,  a  workman  that  needeth 
not  to  be  ashamed,  handling  right  the  word 
of  truth."    II  Timothy  2:15. 

"Every  scripture  inspired  of  God,  is  also 
profitable  for  teaching,  for  reproof,  for  cor- 
rection, for  instruction  which  is  in  right- 
eousness ;  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  com- 
plete, furnished  completely  unto  every  good 
work."    //  Timothy  3:16-17. 

"And,  behold,  I  come  quickly ;  and  my  re- 
ward is  with  me,  to  give  every  man  accord- 
ing as  his  work  shall  be."    Revelation  22:12. 

The  personal  worker  must  be  character- 
ized by  certain  natural  endowments.  We 
give  some  of  these,  briefly,  here  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  student : 

The  personal  worker  should  be  tactful, 
shrewd,  wise,  courageous.  His  address  must 
[33] 


TEN  LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

appeal.  He  must  be  a  person  of  good  char- 
acter. His  habits  must  be  properly  formed. 
He  must  avoid  dangerous  companionships 
and  places  of  resort.  He  must  not  be  apolo- 
getic. 

He  must  be  well  endowed  spiritually.  His 
spiritual  qualifications  will  include  being 
seved  himself.  He  must  know  that  he  is 
saved.  He  must  believe  the  Bible.  He  must 
have  all  faith  in  the  power  of  the  gospel  to 
save  to  the  uttermost  all  those  who  believe 
it.  He  must  be  mightily  impressed  with  the 
fact  that  men  without  Christ  are  eternally 
lost.  He  must  hate  sin.  He  must  love 
righteousness,  know  his  Bible,  and  be  a  man 
of  prayer.  He  must  have  faith,  humility 
and  be  personally  pure.  He  must  be  pa- 
tient and  have  great  love  for  the  unsaved. 
He  should  make  a  report  of  every  visit  made 
and  every  soul  brought  to  Christ. 


[34] 


IV 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL 
WORKERS 

Lesson  Three 

To  some,  personal  work  may  seem  a  small 
matter,  too  small  in  fact,  to  waste  time  with 
it.  The  personal  worker  should  divest  him- 
self of  this  idea  at  once.  Joel  Stratton  won 
John  B.  Gough  from  a  life  of  disgrace  and 
shame.  Mr.  Gough  expressed  his  apprecia- 
tion to  Mr.  Stratton  in  the  following  words : 
"My  friend,  it  may  be  a  small  matter  for 
you  to  speak  the  one  word  for  Christ  that 
wins  a  needy  soul — a  small  mutter  to  you, 
but  it  is  everything  to  him." 

The  suggestions  which  follow  are  to  be 
considered  by  the  student,  simply,  as  sug- 
gestions and  nothing  more.  It  is  possible 
[35] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

for  each  suggestion  mentioned  to  have 
something  added  or  subtracted,  doubtless, 
and  if  so,  then,  have  no  hesitancy  in  alter- 
ing them  to  suit  the  conditions  surround- 
ing the  work  to  be  accomplished.  The  sug- 
gestions follow  : 

1.  Choose  persons  of  your  own  sex  and 
age,  as  far  as  possible. 

2.  Get  the  individual  with  whom  you  are 
dealing  all  alone. 

3.  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  guide  you  in 
everything. 

4.  Do  not  content  yourself  in  reading  or 
quoting  scripture  to  him.  Ask  him  to  com- 
mit certain  verses  to  memory. 

5.  Use  only  a  single  passage  of  scripture 
at  a  time. 

6.  Hold  him  to  the  one  passage  or  sub- 
ject under  consideration. 

7.  By  all  means,  be  courteous. 

8.  Be  dead  in  earnest. 

9.  Never  lose  your  temper.    Keep  sweet. 
10.  Never  argue. 

[36] 


SUGGESTIONS   FOR   PERSONAL  WORKERS 

11.  Never  interrupt  another. 

12.  Do  not  be  in  a  hurry. 

13.  When  at  all  wise  get  the  man  to  pray. 

14.  When  you  seem  to  fail  do  not  be  dis- 
couraged.    Go  home  and  pray. 

15.  If  you  seem  to  fail  the  first  time  to 
win  him  leave  him  in  a  humor  that  will  per- 
mit a  return  visit. 

16.  When  once  you  have  won  him  give 
him  some  instruction  in  practical  Christian 
living. 

17.  When  you  have  won  him  impress  him 
with  the  importance  of  relating  himself  with 
the  Church  of  his  choice. 

18.  When  he  has  united  with  the  Church 
give  him  something  to  do. 

19.  If  he  should  show  indications  of  loss 
of  interest  in  the  Church,  speak  an  encour- 
aging word  to  him. 

20.  It  is  the  "I  can"  fellow  who  brings 
things  to  pass. 

Napoleon  said  "Can't  is  found  only  in  the 
dictionary  of  fools." 

[37] 


METHODS  OF  PERSONAL  WORK 

Lesson  Four 

This  is  an  age  of  specialization.  The  best 
methods  of  bringing  things  to  pass  are  being 
sought  in  eyerj  department  of  life.  Prog- 
ress is  apparent  everywliere.  We  do  not 
do  things  to-day  like  we  did  yesterday ;  and 
we  will  not  do  things  to-morrow  like  we  are 
doing  them  to-day.  Hence  there  can  be 
no  set  rules  for  the  great  task  of  leading 
men  into  the  light  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

As  one  star  differeth  from  another  star 
so  people  differ  from  each  other.  No  two 
leaves  that  tremble  on  the  oak,  and  no  two 
roses  that  bloom  in  the  flower  garden,  are 
identically  the  same. 

The  method  that  might  be  very  effective 
[38] 


METHODS   OF   PERSONAL   WORK 

with  one  individual  would  utterly  fail  if 
applied  to  another. 

Jesus  Christ  the  great  teacher  sent  from 
God  has  given  us  the  only  safe  rule  for 
guidance  in  this  work  of  soul  winning  in 
the  words,  "My  meat  is  to  do  the  will  of 
him  that  sent  me,  and  to  finish  his  work." 

We  present  the  following  as  a  guide  to 
the  worker: 

C  First — there  is  an  approach  to  each  in- 
dividual. The  worker  should  study  the  in- 
dividual and  be  sure  he  is  right  and  then  go 
ahead.  /  Even  as  the  successful  teacher 
would  not  think  of  permitting  a  year  to 
pass  without  reading  a  good  work  on 
psychology,  so  the  personal  worker  may 
profit  by  the  same  rule.  We  should  remem- 
ber that  none  of  us  is  perfect.  The  best  of 
us  will  make  mistakes,  but  God  overrules 
honest  mistakes  to  His  own  Glory. 
(  Second — good  judgment  is  essential  to 
successful  effort.  In  personal  work  as  in 
[39] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

every  other  work  there  is  needed  a  good 
supply  of  common  sense.  )  The  successful 
salesman  studies  the  needs  of  his  customers. 
"He  does  not  offer  silks  to  the  Eskimo  or 
furs  to  the  Ethiopian.  He  does  not  try  to 
sell  plowshares  to  seamen  or  anchors  to 
farmers.  (  He  studies  diligently,  the  person- 
alities of  those  to  whom  he  would  sell  his 
wares.  He  tries  to  thoroughly  understand 
their  viewpoints,  their  modes  of  thought, 
their  mental  attitudes,  their  business  meth- 
ods, their  personal  habits,  their  social  con- 
nections, their  politics  and  their  religion.'' 
Third — there  must  be  naturalness  on  the 
part  of  the  personal  worker.  Camouflage  is 
easily  detected.  You  cannot  long  seem  what 
you  are  not  without  being  found  out.  The 
men  who  have  won  out  on  account  of  their 
peculiarities  have  not  assumed  such  peculi- 
arities. They  were  natural  with  them.  The 
man  who  tries  to  be  some  one  else  usually 
falls  heir  only  to  the  weak  things  in  the  life 
[40] 


METHODS   OF   PERSONAL   WORK 

of  the  one  he  attempts  to  imitate.  The  imi- 
tator is  a  failure,  as  a  rule.  Personal 
worker,  be  yourself,  your  best  self! 

Fourth — the  personal  worker  must  be 
tremendously  in  earnest.  Earnestness  has 
won  many  a  victory.  Ralph  Waldo  Emer- 
son said  "Every  great  and  commanding 
movement  in  the  histoi'y  of  the  world  is  the 
result  of  earnestness  bordering  on  enthusi- 
asm." The  minister  said  to  the  actor,  "How 
is  it  that  you,  speaking  fiction,  can  wring 
tears  from  the  eyes  of  your  hearers,  while 
I,  speaking  the  truth,  cannot  so  effect  my 
audience?" 

The  actor  replied  by  saying,  "The  answer 
is  easy.  I  speak  fiction  as  though  it  were 
truth  while  you  speak  truth  as  though  it 
were  fiction."  When  Lloyd  Garrison  was 
assailed  by  his  enemies,  he  met  them  with 
this  declaration,  "I  am  in  earnest.  I  will 
not  equivocate.  I  will  not  retreat.  I  will 
be  heard."  This  brought  victory.  ^ '  All  the 
opposing  powers  in  the  world  cannot  keep 
[41] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

the  earnest  and  determined  man  from  walk- 
ing in  the  great  highway  of  success.  "Pur- 
pose once  fixed — then  death  or  victory" — 
will  accom^lisli  anything  that  can  be  done 
in  this  world. 

Men  are  greatly  in  earnest  as  to  their 
business.  The  people  who  care  for  so-called 
society  enter  into  it  with  earnestness.  The 
politician  does  not  go  about  his  campaign 
with  an  indifferent  careless  spirit.  He  goes 
out  to  win.  And  many  times  even  after 
the  returns  are  in,  he  is  hard  to  be  con- 
vinced that  he  has  been  defeated.  Why  not 
be  in  earnest  about  our  religious  work?  It 
is  the  greatest  work  in  the  world.  One  time 
when  Rowland  Hill  was  speaking  most  ear- 
nestly, he  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  dis- 
course and  said,  "Because  I  am  in  earnest 
men  call  me  an  enthusiast.  When  I  first 
came  into  this  community,"  he  said,  "I  saw  a 
gravel  pit  fall  in  and  entomb  three  men.  I 
yelled  loud  enough  to  be  heard  a  mile  away. 
Men  came  and  saved  the  life  of  two  of  the 
[42] 


METHODS   OF   PERSONAL   WORK 

men.  At  that  time  no  one  seemed  to  think 
that  I  was  too  much  in  earnest."  Personal 
workers,  souls  are  perishing  for  the  water  of 
life!  Be  in  earnest  about  your  work!  It 
is  said  a  certain  minister  kept  the  picture 
of  Heniy  Martin  in  his  study.  Wherever 
he  would  move  round  in  the  room  the  eyes 
of  the  man  of  God  seemed  to  follow  him 
and  seemed  to  say  to  him  "Be  in  earnest,  do 
not  trifle,  do  not  trifle."  And  this  good  man 
would  bow  his  head  and  say  "I  will  be  in 
earnest,  I  will  not  trifle.  For  souls  are  per- 
ishing and  Jesus  must  be  glorified." 

A  number  of  good  methods  for  personal 
work  have  been  suggested  by  certain  suc- 
cessful soul  winners.  Among  them  we 
would  call  attention  to  the  "Invitation 
Method." 

This  consists  in  simply  inviting  people 
to  the  services  and  by  this  means  get  them 
under  the  power  of  the  sermon  and  the  song. 

Some  have  used  the  "Correspondence 
Method"  to  fine  advantage.  Some  workers 
[43] 


TEN   LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL   EVANGELISM 

have  had  gospel  invitations  printed  on  their 
stationeiy.  The  worker  should  be  very  dis- 
creet in  this  as  well  as  other  ways  of  work- 
ing. 

Some  have  used  the  "Prayer  Method" 
with  much  success.  Sometimes  the  prayers 
of  workers  have  resulted  in  the  conversion 
of  the  unsaved. 

In  dealing  with  a  soul  he  should  be 
brought  face  to  face  with  the  question  of 
his  acceptance  or  rejection  of  Christ  as  his 
Saviour.  Now  is  the  time.  To  delay  is  dan- 
gerous. 


[44] 


VI 

SWARMING    BEES    FOR    PERSONAL 
WORKERS 

Lesson  Five 

First,  ^^Be  prayerful/^ 

"In  nothing  be  anxious;  but  in  every- 
thing by  prayer  and  supplication  with 
thanksgiving,  let  your  requests  be  made 
known  unto  God."  Phil.  Jl^:6. 

"But  thou,  when  thou  pray  est,  enter  into 
thine  inner  chamber,  and  having  shut  thy 
door,  pray  to  thy  Father  who  is  in  secret, 
and  thy  Father  who  seeth  in  secret  shall 
recompense  thee."  Matt.  6:6. 
Second,  ''Be  tactfiiV 

"Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters:  for 
thou  shalt  find  it  after  many  days."  Eccl. 
11:1. 

"Giving  no  occasion  of  stumbling  in  any- 
[45] 


TEN  LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

thing,  that  our  ministration  be  not  blamed." 
//  Cor.  6:3. 
Third,  ''Be  loyal." 

"Whether  therefore  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or 
whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  gloiy  of 
God."    /  Cor.  10:31. 

"But  Peter  and  John  answered  and  said 
unto  them,  whether  it  is  right  in  the  sight 
of  God  to  hearken  unto  you,  rather  than 
unto  God,  judge  ye ;  for  we  cannot  but  speak 
the  things  which  we  saw  and  heard."  Acts 
It  .19-20. 
Fourth,  ''Be  clean." 

"If  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart,  the 
Lord  will  not  hear  me."    Psalms  66:18. 
Fifth,  "Be  sure  of  your  own  salvation." 

"Therefore  being  justified  by  faith  we 
have  peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."     Romans  5:1. 

"There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation 
to  them  who  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk 
not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  "Spirit." 
Romans  8:1. 

[46] 


SWARMING    BEES   FOR    PERSONAL   WORKERS 

Sixth,  ^'Be  separate  from  the  world" 

"Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with 
unbelievers ;  for  what  fellowship  hath  right- 
eousness with  unrighteousness?  and  what 
communion  hath  light  with  darkness?  And 
what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial?  Or 
what  part  hath  he  that  believeth  with  an 
infidel?  And  what  agreement  hath  the  tem- 
ple of  God  with  idols?  For  ye  are  the  tem- 
ple of  the  living  God;  as  God  hath  said,  I 
will  dwell  in  them,  and  walk  in  them;  and 
I  will  be  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my 
people. 

"Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them, 
and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and 
touch  not  the  unclean  thing;  and  I  will  re- 
ceive you,  and  will  be  a  Father  unto  you, 
and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and  daughters, 
saith  the  Lord  Almighty."  //  Cor.  6:14-18. 
Seventh,  ^^Be  definite  in  your  work." 

"For  I  determined  not  to  know  anything 
among  you,   save   Jesus   Christ,   and   him 
crucified."    I  Cor.  2:2. 
[47] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Eighth,  ^^Be  specific  in  your  work/^ 

"He  that  believeth  on  Him  is  not  con- 
demned :  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  con- 
demned already,  because  he  hath  not  be- 
lieved in  the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son 
of  God."  John  3:18. 
Ninth,  ^^Be  devoted  to  your  work." 

"But  what  things  were  gain  to  me,  those 
I  counted  loss  for  Christ,  yea  doubtless,  and 
I  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my 
Lord :  for  whom  I  have  suffered  the  loss  of 
all  things,  and  do  count  them  but  dung, 
that  I  may  win  Christ."  Phil.  3:7-8. 
Tenth,  ''Be  a  Bihle  Student.'' 

"Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto 
God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of 
truth."     //  Tim.  2:15. 

"All  scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  re- 
proof,   for    correction,    for    instruction    in 
righteousness ;  that  the  man  of  God  may  be 
[48] 


SWARMING   BEES   FOR   PERSONAL  WORKERS 

perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good 
works."     //  Tim.  3:16-17. 
Eleventh,  "^Be  a  Lover  of  Christ." 

"Whom    having    not    seen,    you    love." 
1  Pet.  1:8.    "We  love  him  because  he  first 
loved  us."    /  John  Jt:19. 
Twelfth,  ''Be  intense  in  your  love  for  souls." 

"Brethren,  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer 
to  God  for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be 
saved."    Romans  10:1. 

Thirteenth,  ''Be  a  worker  of  unwavering 
faith." 

"Above  all,  taking  the  shield  of  faith 
wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to  quench  all  the 
fiery  darts  of  the  wicked."     Eph.  6:16. 

"Holding  faith,  and  a  good  conscience; 
which  some  having  put  away,  concerning 
faith  have  made  a  shipwreck;  of  whom  is 
Hymenaeus  and  Alexander;  whom  I  have 
delivered  unto  Satan  that  they  may  learn 
not  to  blaspheme."  /  Tim.  1:19-20. 
Fourteenth,  "Be  wholly  dependent  on  the 
Holy  Spirit." 

[49] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL   EVANGELISM 

"But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy 
Spirit,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my 
name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and 
bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  what- 
soever I  have  said  unto  you."  John  14-26. 
Fifteenth,  '^^Be  gentle  hut  earnest." 

"Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Take 
my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me;  for  I 
am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart:  and  ye  shall 
find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  my  yoke  is 
easy,  and  my  burden  is  light."  Matt. 
11:28-30. 

Sixteenth,  ^^Be  careful  to  urge  immediate 
decision." 

"King  Agrippa,  believest  thou  the  proph- 
ets? I  know  that  thou  believest.  Then 
Agrippa  said  unto  Paul,  almost  thou  per- 
suadest  me  to  be  a  Christian.  And  Paul  said, 
I  would  to  God,  that  not  only  thou,  but  also 
all  that  hear  me  this  day,  were  both  almost, 
and  altogetlier  such  as  I  am,  except  these 
bonds."  Acts  26:21-29. 
[50] 


SWARMING   BEES   FOR   PERSONAL  WORKERS 

"Now  is  the  accepted  time;  behold  now 
is  the  day  of  salvation."    //  Cor.  6: 2. 
Seventeenth,  '^^Lct  us  not  he  weary  in  well- 
doing, for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap 
if  we  faint  not."     Galatians  6:9. 
Eighteenth,  ^^Be  not  slothful  in  business; 
fervent  in  spirit;    serving  the  Lord." 
Romans  12:11. 


[51] 


VII 

PERSONAL  WORKER,   WHAT   OF 
THYSELF? 

Lesson  Six 

First,  Do  I  listen  for  the  voice  of  God? 

"I  will  hear  what  God  the  Lord  will 
speak ;  for  he  will  speak  peace  unto  his  peo- 
ple, and  to  his  saints ;  but  let  them  not  turn 
again  to  folly." 

Second,    Am    I    conscious    of    my    secret 
Faults? 

"Cleanse   thou  me  from  secret  faults." 
Psalm  19:12. 
Third,  Have  I  Presumptuous  sins? 

"Keep  back  thy  servant  also  from  pre- 
sumptuous sins ;  let  them  not  have  dominion 
over  me;  then  shall  I  be  upright,  and  I 
shall  be  innocent  from  the  great  transgres- 
sion."    Psalm-  19:13. 

[52] 


PERSONAL    WORKER,    WHAT    OF   THYSELF? 

Fourth,  Arc  my  words  acceptable  words? 

"Let  the  words  of  my  mouth  and  the  medi- 
tations of  my  heart,  be  acceptable  in  thy 
sight,  O  Lord,  my  strength,  and  my  re- 
deemer."    Psalm  W.lJi. 

"A  word  fitly  spoken  is  like  apples  of  gold 
in  pictures  of  silver."    Prov.  25:11. 
Fifth,  Do  I  abstain  from  fleshly  lusts  and 
desires? 

"Dearly  beloved,  I  beseech  you  as  strang- 
ers and  pilgrims,  abstain  from  fleshly  lusts, 
which  war  against  the  soul."    /  Pet.  2:11. 
Sixth,  Am  I  living  a  pure  life? 

"Lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man,  neither 
be  partaker  of  other  men's  sins;  keep  thy- 
self pure."     /  Tim.  5:22. 
Seventh,  Do  I  keep  myself  in  the  love  of 
God? 

"But  ye,  beloved,  building  up  yourselves 
on  your  most  holy  faith,  praying  in  the 
Holy  Spirit,  keep  yourselves  in  the  love  of 
God,  looking  for  the  mercy  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ." 

[53] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Eighth,  Do  I  know  the  source  of  my  help? 

"I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills 
from  whence  cometh  my  help.  My  help 
eometh  from  the  Lord,  which  made  heaven 
and  earth."  Psalm  121:1-2. 
Ninth,  Is  my  life  filled  with  trepidation  or 
trust,  which? 

"Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the 
throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy, 
and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need." 
Heh.  4:16. 

Tenth,  Am  /  in  touch  with  the  great  source 
of  supply? 

"But  my  God  shall  supply  all  your  need 
according  to  his  riches  in  gloi'y  by  Jesus 
Christ."    Phil.  4:19. 

Eleventh,  Is  my  mind  and  heart  stayed  on 
Christ? 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace, 
whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee;  because  he 
trusteth  in  thee."    Isaiah  26:3. 
Twelfth,  Do  I  know  my  power? 
[54] 


PERSONAL    WORKER,    WHAT    OF   THYSELF? 

"If  ye  abide  with  me,  and  my  words  abide 
in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it 
shall  be  done  unto  you."    John  15:  7. 
Thirteenth,  Do  I  let  my  light  shine? 

"Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that 

they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify 

your  Father  who  is  in  heaven."    John  5:16. 

Fourteenth,     Do     I     rightly     direct     my 

thoughts  f 

"Finally  brethren,  whatsoever  things  are 
true,  whatsoever  things  are  honest,  whatso- 
ever things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are 
pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatso- 
ever things  are  of  good  report;  if  there  be 
any  virtue,  and  if  there  be  any  praise,  think 
on  these  things."  Phil.  4-8- 
Fifteenth,  Have  I  received  the  Holy  Spirit? 

"But  ye  shall  receive  powder,  after  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  come  upon  you ;  and  ye  shall 
be  witnesses  unto  me  both  in  Jerusalem, 
and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto 
the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth."  Acts  1 :8. 
[55] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Note. — If  the  Personal  Worker  will  take 
the  time  to  commit  these  questions  and  an- 
swers they  will  be  an  abiding  source  of 
strength  and  help  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 


[56] 


VIII 

THE  PERSONAL   WORKERS' 
OPPORTUNITIES 

Lesson  Seven 

The  opportunities  for  personal  evangel- 
ism present  themselves  in  many  different 
ways.  The  ice-man,  the  milk-man,  the  gro- 
cery-man, the  gas-meter  reader,  the  electric 
light  meter  reader,  the  man  who  works  by 
your  side  in  the  factory  or  the  store,  the 
man  with  whom  you  travel  on  the  train,  in 
fact  every  individual  you  meet,  who  is  not 
now  a  Christian,  is  a  possible  disciple  of 
Christ.  It  is  your  task  as  a  personal  work- 
er, guided  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  bring  that 
one  to  know  Christ,  whom  to  know  aright 
is  life  eternal. 

Then  there  is  work  among  ourselves  as 
Christians.  It  is  said  that  the  early  Chris- 
[57] 


TEN  LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGEUSM 

tians  spake  often  one  to  another.  There  is 
much  to  talk  about  if  we  are  truly  follow- 
ers of  Christ. 

If  we  are  really  Christians  we  have  many 
reasons  for  giving  thanks  unto  the  Father 
of  us  all. 

"He  brought  me  up  out  of  a  horrible  pit, 
out  of  the  miry  clay,  and  set  my  feet  upon 
a  rock,  and  established  my  goings."  Psalms 
40:2. 

"I,  even  I,  am  he  that  blotteth  out  thy 
transgressions  for  mine  own  sake,  and  will 
not  remember  thy  sins."     Isa.  43:25. 

"Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled;  ye  be- 
lieve in  God,  believe  also  in  me.  In  my  Fa- 
ther's house  are  many  mansions;  if  it  were 
not  so  I  would  have  told  you.  I  go  to  pre- 
pare a  place  for  you.  And  if  I  go  and  pre- 
pare a  place  for  you,  I  will  come  again,  and 
receive  you  unto  myself;  that  where  I  am, 
there  ye  may  be  also.  And  whither  I  go  ye 
know,  and  the  way  ye  know."    John  14:1-4- 

There  are  many  backsliders  who  need  to 
[58] 


THE   TERSONAL   WORKERS'    OPPORTUNITIES 

he  brought  hack  to  right  relationship  with 
Christ.  The  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Is- 
rael needed  hunting  up  when  Christ  came 
into  the  world.  There  are  many  Church 
members  who  have  lost  their  way  and  they 
need  help  in  order  that  they  might  again 
find  their  places  of  usefulness  in  the  Church. 

"The  backslider  in  heart  shall  be  filled 
with  his  own  ways."    Prov.  11^:11^. 

"Go  and  proclaim  these  words  toward  the 
north,  and  say,  Return,  thou  backsliding 
Israel,  saith  the  Lord ;  and  I  will  not  cause 
mine  anger  to  fall  upon  you ;  for  I  am  mer- 
ciful, saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not  keep 
anger  forever."    Jer.  3:12. 

"So  when  they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to 
Simon  Peter,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest 
thou  me  more  than  these?  He  saith  unto 
him,  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest  that  I  love 
thee.    He  saith  unto  him.  Feed  my  lambs." 

"He  said  to  him  again  the  second  time, 
Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?  He 
saith  unto  him.  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest 
[59] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

that  I  love  thee.  He  saith  unto  him,  Feed 
my  sheep." 

"He  saith  unto  him  the  third  time,  Simon, 
son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?  Peter  was 
grieved  because  he  said  unto  him  the  third 
time,  Lovest  thou  me?  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things;  thou 
knowest  that  I  love  thee.  Jesus  saith  unto 
him,  Feed  my  sheep."    John  21:15-17. 

"Now  the  just  shall  live  by  faith ;  but  if 
any  man  draw  back,  my  soul  shall  have  no 
pleasure  in  him."    Heb.  10:38. 

"Nevertheless  I  have  somewhat  against 
thee,  because  thou  hast  left  thy  first  love. 
Remember  therefore  from  whence  thou  art 
fallen,  and  repent,  and  do  the  first  works, 
or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly,  and 
will  remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  his  place, 
except  thou  repent."    Rev.  2:^-5. 

And  last  there  are  those  tvho  are  lost  in 
sin,  the  vast  throng  of  unbelievers,  who  mu^st 
be  led  into  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel. 
[60] 


THE   PERSONAL   WORKERS'    OPPORTUNITIES 

The  following  scripture  will  throw  light 
on  the  present  condition  of  such  individ- 
uals: 

"He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not  con- 
demned; but  he  that  believeth  not  is  con- 
demned already,  because  he  hath  not  be- 
lieved in  the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son 
of  God."    John  3:18. 

"And  when  he  is  come,  he  will  reprove  the 
world  of  sin,  and  of  righteousness,  and  of 
judgment;  of  sin  because  they  believe  not 
on  me."    John  16:8-9. 

"For  as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the 
law  are  under  the  curse;  for  it  is  written, 
Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in 
all  things  which  are  written  in  the  book  of 
the  law  to  do  them."    Gal  3:10. 

The  future  condition  of  the  unsaved  is 
vividly  set  forth  in  the  following  declara- 
tions of  the  Bihle: 

"He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  ever- 
lasting life;  and  he  that  believeth  not  the 
[61] 


TEN   LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Son  shall  not  see  life ;  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him."    John  3:36. 

"I  also  will  laugh  at  your  calamity;  I 
will  mock  when  your  fear  cometh ;  when 
your  fear  cometh  as  desolation,  and  your 
destruction  cometh  as  a  whirlwind;  when 
distress  and  anguish  cometh  upon  you.  Then 
shall  they  call  upon  me,  but  I  will  not  an- 
swer; they  shall  seek  me  early,  but  they 
shall  not  find  me."     Proverbs  1:26-28. 

"For  the  Lord  knoweth  the  way  of  the 
righteous ;  but  the  way  of  the  ungodly  shall 
perish."    Psalms  1:6. 

"And  while  they  went  to  buy,  the  bride- 
groom came ;  and  they  that  were  ready  went 
in  with  him  to  the  marriage;  and  the  door 
was  shut."    Matt.  25:10. 

"Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  T  go  my  way, 
and  ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall  die  in  your 
sins;  whither  I  go,  ye  cannot  come."  John 
8:21. 

"And  these  shall  go  away  into  everlast- 
[62] 


THE   PERSONAL   WORKERS'    OPPORTUNITIES 

ing  punishment ;  but  the  righteous  into  life 
eternal."    Matt.  25:46. 

The  personal  evangelist  should  always 
hear  in  mind  that  salvation  has  heen  pro- 
vided for  all  nnhelicvers,  and  that  it  is  in 
his  power  to  avert  such  disasters  as  are  de- 
scribed, so  graphically,  in  the  foregoing 
scriptural  declaration. 

"For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and 
to  save  that  which  was  lost."    Luke  19:10. 

"But  God  commendeth  his  love  toward 
us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners, 
Christ  died  for  us."    Romans  5:8. 

"This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of 
all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into 
the  world  to  save  sinners."     /  Tim.  1:15. 

"For  Christ  hath  once  suffered  for  sins, 
the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring 
us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the  flesh, 
but  quickened  by  the  Spirit."    /  Pet.  3:18. 

"In  this  was  manifested  the  love  of  God 
toward  us,  because  that  God  sent  his  only 
[63] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

begotten  Son  into  the  world,  that  we  might 
live  through  him.  Herein  is  love,  not  that 
we  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent 
his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins." 
IJohn  4:9-10. 

There  is  salvation  for  all  who  will  repent 
of  their  sins.  Here  is  the  very  message  that 
God  would  have  the  personal  evangelist  to 
deliver : 

"Say  unto  them,  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord 
God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the 
wicked;  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his 
way  and  live;  turn  ye,  turn  ye  from  your 
evil  ways;  for  why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of 
Israel."    Ezek.  33:11. 

"Repent  ye,  and  believe  the  gospel." 
Mark  1:15. 

There  is  ahsoliitely  no  hope  for  the  sin- 
ner without  Christ. 

"But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them 
gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his  name." 
John  1:12. 

[64] 


IX 

THE  PERSONAL  WORKERS'  TASK 

WINNING  SOULS 

Lesson  Eight 

"Come  for  all  things  are  now  ready." 
Luke  14  fX'^-  This  is  the  invitation  of  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church.  When  Christ 
was  in  the  world  he  often  taught  by  para- 
bles. This  invitation  occurs  in  the  parable 
of  the  "Marriage  Supper."  The  big  thing 
in  the  hearts  of  men  then,  as  now,  was  the 
exaltation  of  self.  Christ  came  into  this 
world  to  teach  men  a  better  way.  In  this 
parable  he  strikes  selfishness  a  sledge  ham- 
mer blow.  He  said  when  you  are  invited  to 
a  feast  take  the  lowest  seat.  It  is  better 
to  take  a  low  seat  and  be  invited  up,  than 
to  take  a  high  seat  and  be  invited  down. 
This  idea  was  new  to  the  Pharisees. 
[65] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL   EVANGELISM 

Then  he  said  when  you  make  a  feast  in- 
vite the  poor,  the  maimed,  the  lame,  the  halt 
and  the  blind.  Doubtless  those  sedate  Phar- 
isees said,  Master  these  people  are  not  all 
members  of  our  social  gang.  Many  of  us 
would  not  feel  at  home  at  a  feast  which 
would  be  given  by  Christ. 

In  this  parable  we  have  the  account  of  a 
certain  man  who  made  a  great  feast  and 
bade  many.  When  the  supper  was  prepared 
he  sent  his  servant  out  to  tell  the  guests 
that  all  things  were  ready.  They  began  to 
make  excuse. 

The  first  said,  "I  have  bought  a  piece  of 
ground.  I  must  see  it.  Please,  have  me 
excused."  Another  said,  "I  have  bought 
five  yoke  of  oxen.  I  go  to  prove  them. 
Please  have  me  excused."  And  still  an- 
other said,  "I  have  married  a  wife,  there- 
fore I  cannot  come." 

The  servant  returned  and  reported  his 
findings.  The  Master  of  the  house  was  very 
angry.  Why  shouldn't  he  be?  The  servants 
[66] 


THE   PERSONAL  WORKERS'   TASK 

then  were  sent  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of 
the  city,  to  the  highways  and  hedges,  to  in- 
vite the  halt,  the  lame,  and  the  blind,  in 
fact  any  one  whom  they  might  encounter  in 
their  rounds. 

This  feast  is  typical  of  the  great  feast 
which  has  been  so  bountifully  prepared  by 
Christ  and  the  invitation  is  to  "Come  for  all 
things  are  now  ready." 

Nothing  has  been  left  undone.  Jesus  has 
tasted  death  for  every  man.  He  gave  Him- 
self a  ransom  for  sin.  By  His  stripes  we 
are  healed.  A  devotee  of  a  pagan  religion 
went  to  his  priest  and  asked  him  how  to  be 
free  from  his  burden  of  guilt.  He  was  told 
to  drive  spikes  into  his  shoe  soles  and  to 
walk  on  them  a  distance  of  five  hundred 
miles.  He  undertook  the  journey.  Of  course 
he  found  no  relief.  One  day  while  resting 
under  the  shade  of  a  great  tree  by  the  road 
side  wher6  travelers  were  accustomed  to 
stop  and  rest,  a  missionary  came,  and  began 
to  speak  to  the  people  gathered  there.  He 
[67] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGEUSM 

took  for  his  text  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ, 
His  Son,  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  This  poor 
man  said  "This  is  what  I  want.  This  is  what 
I  have  wanted  to  hear,  oh,  so  long."  He 
accepted  the  message  of  the  gospel  and  be- 
came a  devoted  Christian.  The  awful  bur- 
den of  the  world  is  sin.  The  only  remedy 
is  the  blood  of  Christ.  There  are  those  who 
tell  you  that  the  blood  of  Christ  is  no  more 
than  the  blood  of  any  other  good  man.  Do 
not  believe  such  nonsense.  There  is  no  re- 
mission of  sin  apart  from  the  shed  blood 
of  Christ. 

"Come,  sinner  to  the  gospel  feast, 
Let  every  soul  be  Jesus'  guest, 
You  need  not  one  be  left  behind, 
God  hath  bidden  all  mankind." 

The  Holy  Spirit  pleads  with  men  to  turn 
from  their  sin  and  live.  As  the  sun  pours 
his  invigorating  rays  down  into  the  very 
heart  of  the  earth  and  fills  all  vegetable  life 
with  new  vitality,  so  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
ready  to  come  into  men's  hearts  and  fill 
them  with  Christ's  life.  Never  was  a 
[68] 


THE    PERSONAL   WORKERS'    TASK 

sparkling  rain  drop  readier  to  come  down 
into  tlie  heart  of  the  rose  than  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  to  come  into  the  sin  sick  soul  to 
bring  the  healing  balm.  He  stands  at  the 
door  of  every  faded  life  to  offer  new  lustre 
and  beauty. 

How  willing  Christ  was  to  speak  to  the 
leper  as  he  came  down  from  the  mountain 
after  having  delivered  that  great  sermon  on 
the  mount,  just  that  willing  is  He  to  give 
life  to  the  sinner  to-day.  The  Holy  Spirit 
stands  in  readiness  to  bring  the  world  back 
into  right  relationship  with  God.  There 
is  every  possible  encouragement  for  men  to 
come  back  to  Christ.  The  promises  of  God 
to  the  sinner  shine  out  of  His  word  like  the 
stars  out  of  the  vaulted  sky.  The  promises 
of  God  are  an  exhaustless  mine  of  wealth. 
Happy  is  the  man  who  can  find  this  mine 
and  enrich  himself  with  its  treasures. 

The  promises  of  God  are  an  armory.  It 
contains  all  manner  of  weapons,  defensive 
and  offensive.  Fortunate,  Indeed,  is  the 
[69] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

man  who  obtains  the  key  to  this  armory  and 
enters  the  sacred  arsenal  to  clothe  himself 
with  the  breastplate  of  righteousness  and 
the  helmet  of  salvation. 

The  promises  of  God  are  a  surgery.  Here 
the  diligent  seeker  may  find  all  manner  of 
restoratives  and  blessed  elixirs.  Here  the 
sinner  finds  an  ointment  for  every  canker- 
ing sore,  a  cordial  for  every  faintness  and 
a  remedy  for  evei*y  disease.  Happy  is  the 
man  who  becomes  skilled  in  heavenly  phar- 
macy and  knows  how  to  search  out  the  heal- 
ing virtues. 

The  Bible  is  a  casket  of  promises.  Lift 
the  lid  and  watch  the  diamonds  sparkle. 
Some  diamond  hunters  became  discouraged 
because  they  did  not  find  what  they  were 
seeking.  Some  of  the  company  was  ready 
to  give  over  the  search.  One  of  them  said 
"Let  us  search  just  a  little  longer."  They 
did  so,  and  found  enough  diamonds  to  af- 
fect the  diamond  market  of  the  world.  Here 
in  God's  Book,  the  Personal  Workers'  hand 
[70] 


THE   PERSONAL  WORKERS'   TASK 

hook,  are  the  most  wonderful  diamonds  in 
the  world.  God  gives  to  us  these  exceeding 
great  and  precious  promises  notwithstand- 
ing our  unworthiness  to  receive  them.  When 
Caesar  liad  remembered  a  friend  with  a 
valuable  gift,  the  friend  said  it  is  too  great 
for  me  to  receive,  whereupon  Caesar  said 
"It  is  not  too  great  for  me  to  give."  The 
promises  of  God  are  great  but  not  too  great 
for  Him  to  give  to  every  man  who  will  ac- 
cept them. 

The  Personal  Worker  need  not  go  about 
his  task  apologetically.  The  greatest  men 
of  all  time  have  been  men  of  God. 

Moses,  Paul,  and  David  tower  far  above 
the  men  of  their  time.  Luther,  Wesley,  and 
Calvin  were  the  prominent  men  of  their 
time.  Gladstone  and  Frances  Willard  are 
names,  more  recently  indelibly  written  on 
the  scroll  of  greatness. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  favorable  con- 
ditions that  confront  men  in  regard  to  their 
becoming  Christians  there  are  many  who 
[71] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN  PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

are  still  makiug  excuses  as  they  did  in  the 
first  century  of  personal  evangelism.  Men 
say  "I  am  trying  to  live  as  well  as  I  can." 
"My  life  talks."  It  is  most  foolish  to  try  to 
live  right  without  God's  help.  Others  say, 
"When  I  am  fixed  in  business  I  will  give 
spiritual  things  the  attention  they  demand 
but  not  now."  "Seek  first  the  Kingdom  of 
God." 

And  still  others  say,  "Christianity  is  a 
gloomy  thing,  and  therefore  I  do  not  want  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  it." 

Is  it  gloomy?  The  Apostle  Paul,  pos- 
sibly the  greatest  advocate  of  Christianity, 
aside  from  Christ  Himself,  taught  that 
Christianity  was  calculated  to  make  a  man 
rejoice  in  the  very  presence  of  persecution 
and  death  itself.  Notice  a  contrast :  Phillip 
Stanhope  was  the  polished  English  gentle- 
man, the  fourth  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  high 
born,  eloquent,  witty,  but  he  worshipped  not 
God.  He  was  admired.  In  social  life  he 
shone  as  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude.  He 
[72] 


THE   PERSONAL   WORKERS'    TASK 

was  the  silver-tongued  orator  of  Parliament. 
He  received  every  honor  that  could  come  to 
a  man.  But  the  closing  of  his  life  came. 
What  did  he  have  to  say  then?  The  last 
words  of  a  man  are  usually  his  weightiest 
words.  When  he  came  down  and  faced 
death  he  said,  "My  life  has  been  joyless.  My 
life  has  been  empty.  My  life  has  been 
selfish.'^  Repartees  sparkled  from  his  dying 
lips,  but  all  was  gloomy  and  foreboding 
from  within.  The  pleasures  and  honors  of 
the  world  had  faded  like  stars  at  break  of 
day.  Truth  declines  to  write  his  epitaph, 
virtue  has  no  garlands  for  his  grave. 

But  on  the  other  hand  notice  the  closing 
scenes  of  one  humble  servant  of  Christ. 
John  Wesley  spent  his  life  helping  others. 
Selfishness  had  no  place  in  his  great  heart. 

He  sought  not  the  world's  pleasures,  but 
the  heavenly,  and  down  at  the  closing  scenes 
of  a  life  of  usefulness  he  said,  "The  best  of 
all  is,  God  is  with  us ;  I  am  going  home  to 
die  no  more." 

[73] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

Personal  worker,  go  out  into  the  homes, 
business  offices,  factories,  everyivhere  and 
say  "Come  for  all  things  are  now  ready." 

A  feast  of  good  things  in  life,  awaits  you. 
"Come  for  all  things  are  now  ready." 

Contentment  in  death,  awaits  you.  "Come 
for  all  things  are  now  ready." 

A  blessed  immortality  beyond  the  grave, 
awaits  you.  "Come  for  all  things  are  now 
ready." 


[74] 


THE   PERSONAL  WORKER  AND  HIS 
BIBLE 

Lesson  Nine 

The  one  book,  indispensable,  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  pei^sonal  worker  is  the  Bible. 
This  he  cannot  a£ford  to  neglect.  Some 
look  upon  this  wonderful  book  as  a  garden 
of  spices,  in  which  you  may  walk,  and  at 
your  leisure  pluck  the  flowers  and  gather 
the  fruits  of  the  Eden  of  God.  "But  the 
Bible  is  more  like  a  mine,  in  which  you  must 
dig  and  labor,  the  vast  wealth  of  which  is 
not  to  be  obtained  without  much  toil — a 
mine  rich  in  gold  and  precious  things,  but 
it  must  be  wrought  day  and  night  in  order 
to  produce  them." 

"The  Bible  is  the  best  covenant  that  was 
ever  agreed  on,  the  best  deed  that  was  ever 
[75] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

sealed,  the  best  evidence  ever  produced,  the 
best  will  that  was  ever  made  and  the  best 
testament  that  was  ever  signed,  and  that 
which  crowns  all  is,  that  the  Author  is 
without  partiality,  decides  only  what  He 
understands  all  about,  without  hypocrisy, 
in  whom  is  no  "variableness,  neither  shadow 
of  turning." 

How  should  the  Personal  Worker  use  his 
Bible? 

First,  the  Bible  should  he  studied  prayer- 
fully. 

"Open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law."  Psalms 
119:18. 

Second,  The  Bible  should  be  studied  dili- 
gently. 

"And  these  words,  which  I  command  thee 
this  day,  shall  be  in  thine  heart ;  and  thou 
Shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  chil- 
dren, and  Shalt  talk  of  them  wlien  thou  sit- 
test  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou  walkest 
by  the  way,  and  when  thou  liest  down,  and 
[76] 


THE    PERSONAL    WORKER   AND    HIS    BIBLE 

when  thou  risest  np.  And  thou  shalt  bind 
them  for  a  sign  upon  thine  hand,  and  they 
shall  be  as  frontlets  between  thine  eyes. 
And  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  posts 
of  thy  house,  and  on  thy  gates."  Deut. 
6:6-9. 

Third,  The  Bible  should  he  studied  studi- 
ously. 

"These  were  more  noble  than  those  in 
Thessaloniea,  in  that  they  received  the  word 
with  all  readiness  of  mind,  and  searched  the 
Scriptures  daily,  whether  those  things  were 
true."    Acts  11:11. 

Fourth,  The  Bible  should  be  studied  hon- 
estly. 

"But  that  on  the  good  ground  are  they, 
which  in  an  honest  and  good  heart,  having 
heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring  forth 
fruit  with  patience."  Luke  8:15. 
Fifth,  The  Bible  should  be  studied  under 
the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

"But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy 
Spirit,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my 
[77] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

name,  He  shall  teach  yoii  all  things,  and 
bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  what- 
soever I  have  said  unto  you."  John  14 '26. 
Sixth,  The  Bible  should  he  studied  micro- 
scopically. 

"Search  the  Scriptures;  for  in  them  ye 
think  ye  have  eternal  life ;  and  they  are  they 
which  testify  of  me."    John  5:39. 
Seventh,  The  Bible  should  be  studied  tele- 
scopically. 

"His  going  forth  is  from  the  end  of  the 
heaven,  and  his  circuit  unto  the  ends  of  it; 
and  there  is  nothing  hid  from  the  heat 
thereof."  Psalms  19:6. 
Eighth,  The  Bible  should  be  studied  in  the 
light  of  Christ's  World  Program. 

"And  Jesus  came  and  spake  unto  them, 
saying,  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven 
and  in  earth.  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach 
all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you; 
[78] 


THE    PERSONAL    WORKER   AND    HIS    BIBLE 

and  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world."    Matt.  28:18-20. 
Ninth,  The  Bible  should  he  studied  in  the 
light  of  the  First  coming  of  Christ. 

"For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a 
son  is  given;  and  the  government  shall  be 
upon  his  shoulder;  and  his  name  shall  be 
called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  The  Mighty 
God,  The  Everlasting  Father,  The  Prince  of 
Peace.  Of  the  increase  of  his  government 
and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end."  Isa.  9:6-7. 
Tenth,  The  Bihle  should  he  studied  in  the 
light  of  the  second  coming  of  Christ. 

"When  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  his 
glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him,  then 
shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  glory; 
and  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  na- 
tions; and  he  shall  separate  them  one  from 
another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep 
from  the  goats;  and  he  shall  set  the  sheep 
on  his  right  hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left. 

Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his 
[79] 


TEN   LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM  i 

\ 

right  hand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father, 
inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world."  Matt. 
25:3 1-34. 


[80] 


XI 

THE   PERSONAL  WORKER  AND   HIS 
PROBLEMS 

Lesson  Ten 

"And  they  all  with  one  consent  began  to 
make  excuse."    Luke  14-'18. 

Now,  as  of  old,  men  hunt  for  excuses  for 
not  being  a  Christian,  and  their  excuses  are 
just  as  frivolous  as  the  excuses  made  by 
those  who  were  invited  to  the  "great  sup- 
per" long  ago. 

The  Personal  Worker  must  be  able  to 
meet  the  excuses  with  reasonable  argument, 
convincing,  beyond  any  shadow  of  a  doubt, 
that  the  thing  for  every  man  to  do  is  to 
make  a  full  surrender  of  himself  to  Christ. 

We   mention   here  some   of  the  excuses 
which  the  personal  worker  will  hear,  pos- 
sibly, most  frequently. 
[81] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

First,  "I  want  to  he  a  Christian,  hut  I  am 
not  good  enough." 

Amid  the  awful  pandemonium  of  the 
world  of  darkness,  were  it  possible  to  imag- 
ine a  conference  on  the  subject  of  turning 
men's  minds  against  Christian  principles, 
you  would  no  doubt  hear  one  of  the  coliorts 
say  "I  think  the  way  to  keep  men  from  ac- 
cepting Christ  is  to  advertise  Christianity 
as  a  "Goody,  goody"  kind  of  a  thing  and 
real  men  will  spurn  it."  Satan  is  busy  all 
the  time  tidying  to  keep  the  fact  out  of  men's 
minds  that  Christianity  is  a  great  principle. 
Christianity  is  a  basic  principle,  and  no  in- 
dividual can  be  fully  developed  without  it. 

Men  come  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  by 
being  born  into  it.  It  is  not  a  question  of 
being  good.  It  is  a  question  of  being  born 
again.  "Ye  must  be  born  again,"  said  the 
Great  Teacher. 

A  man  said  "I  have  certain  ideas  that  I 
feel  like  I  want  to  get  rid  of  and  then  I 
am  going  to  join  the  church."  But  becom- 
[82] 


THE   PERSONAL  WORKER  AND  HIS  PROBLEMS 

ing  a  Christian  is  not  ridding  ourselves  of 
certain  preconceived  notions.  I  said  to  this 
man  "Do  you  accept  Jesus  Christ  as  your 
Lord  and  Master?"  He  said,  "I  do."  Then 
I  said,  "Leave  your  notions  to  the  disposal 
of  your  Lord  and  Master." 
But  what  does  the  Bible  have  to  say  in  re- 
gard to  being  good? 

"For  all  have  sinned  and  come  short  of 
the  glory  of  God."    Romans  3:23. 

"But  we  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing,  and 
all  our  righteousness  is  as  filthy  rags." 
Isa.  64:6. 

"And  it  came  to  pass,  as  Jesus  sat  at  meat 
in  the  house,  behold,  many  publicans  and 
sinners  came  and  sat  down  with  him  and  his 
disciples.  And  when  the  Pharisees  saw  it, 
they  said  unto  his  disciples.  Why  eateth 
your  master  with  publicans  and  sinners? 
But  when  Jesus  heard  that,  he  said  unto 
them.  They  that  be  whole  need  not  a  physi- 
cian, but  they  that  are  sick.  But  go  ye 
and  learn  what  that  meaneth,  I  will  have 
[83] 


TEN  LESSONS  IN  PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

mercy,  and  not  sacrifice ;  for  I  am  not  come 
to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  re- 
pentance."   Matt.  9:10-13. 

"For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and 
to  save  that  which  was  lost."    Matt.  18:11. 

"Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin,  or 
the  leopard  his  spots?  Then  may  ye  also 
do  good,  that  are  accustomed  to  do  evil." 
Jer.  13:23. 

"Not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  we 
have  done,  but  according  to  his  mercy  he 
saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration, 
and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Titus 
3:5. 

Surely  with  this  array  of  scripture,  no 
sinner,  however  vile,  will  hesitate  a  moment 
to  come  to  Christ  because  he  feels  that  he 
is  not  good  enough. 

Second,  ^^I  want  to  he  a  Christian,  hut  I  am 
afraid  I  cannot  hold  out." 

Many  people  permit  this  excuse  to  keep 
them  from  making  an  immediate  surrender 
of  themselves  to  Christ.    If  a  man  could  save 
[84] 


THE  PERSONAL  WORKER  AND  HIS  PROBLEMS 

himself,  he  would  have  no  need  of  a  Saviour. 
He  would  be  his  own  Saviour.  The  Bible  is 
plain  on  this  point. 

"There  hath  no  temptation  taken  you,  but 
such  as  is  common  to  man ;  but  God  is  faith- 
ful, who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted 
above  that  ye  are  able;  but  will  with  the 
temptation  also  make  a  way  to  escape,  that 
ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it."    /  Cor.  10:13. 

"For  whatsoever  is  born  of  God  overcom- 
eth  the  world ;  and  this  is  the  victory  that 
overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith." 
/  John  5:4- 

"Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  keep  you 
from  falling,  and  to  present  you  faultless 
before  the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceed- 
ing joy,  to  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour, 
be  glory  and  majesty,  dominion  and  power, 
both  now  and  ever.     Amen."    Jude  24-25. 

"For  I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and 
am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that 
which  I  have  committed  unto  him  against 
that  day."    //  Tim.  1:12. 
[85] 


TEN   LESSONS   IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

God  not  only  knows  how  to  keep  men  from 
falling,  but  his  word  is  out  that  he  will  do 
it.  He  would  permit  heaven  and  earth  to 
fall  before  he  would  allow  one  of  his  prom- 
ises to  go  unfulfilled. 

Third,  Others  will  sap  ^'I  am  afraid  of  he- 
ing  persecuted." 
A  good  way  to  deal  with  a  man  who  is 
"afraid"  is  to  be  plain  with  him  and  tell  him 
he  is  cowardly,  and  leave  him  to  think  the 
matter  over.    A  man  who  is  a  real  man,  and 
that  is  the  kind  who  make  the  best  Chris- 
tian workers,  will  not  long  stay  under  the 
shadow  of  being  branded  as  a  coward. 
Fourth,  ^'^I  have  tried  before  to  he  a  Chris- 
tian but  miserably  failed." 
Such  an  one  may  be  perfectly  honest  in 
his  declaration  and  he  needs  to  be  helped 
into  the  light  of  what  it  really  means  to  be 
a  Christian. 

Fifth,  There  are  still  those  who  say,  ''I  can- 
not be  a  Christian  so  long  as  there  are 
so  many  hypocrites  in  the  Church." 
[86] 


THE  PERSONAL  WOEKBR  AND  HIS  PROBLEMS 

We  must  admit  that  there  are  some  hypo- 
crites in  the  Church.  But  not  nearly  so 
many  as  there  are  out  in  the  world.  The 
best  way  to  get  away  from  hypocrites  is  to 
accept  Christ  and  join  the  Church,  and  live 
for  awhile  with  the  few,  who  may  be  found 
in  the  Church  and  finally  go  to  heaven  where 
there  are  none  at  all.  This  is  far  better 
than  to  live  in  the  world  without  Christ,  and 
among  the  hypocrites  to  be  found  in  almost 
every  sphere  of  life,  and  finally  to  go  to  the 
world  of  darkness,  where  will  be  found  all 
the  hypocrites  that  joined  the  Church  and 
all  who  did  not. 

We  do  not  reject  dollars  because  we  hap- 
pen to  get  a  counterfeit  in  change  once  in  a 
while. 

Sixth,  Others  will  say  ^'There  is  too  much 
to  give  up." 

The  personal  worker  should  bring  the  in- 
dividual out  on  this  question,  and  find  out 
what  it  is  that  he  thinks  he  will  have  to 
give  up,  if  he  becomes  a  Christian.    Do  not 
[87] 


TEN   LESSONS  IN   PERSONAL  EVANGELISM 

leave  him  until  you  thoroughly  convince  him 
that  to  become  a  Christian  does  not  mean 
that  he  will  have  to  surrender  one  single 
wholesome  thing. 

"For  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and  shield; 
the  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory ;  no  good 
thing  will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk 
uprightly.  O,  Lord  of  Hosts,  blessed  is  the 
man  that  trusteth  in  thee."  Psalms  84:11-12. 

"And  he  said  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  un- 
to you,  there  is  no  man  that  has  left  house 
or  parents,  or  brethren,  or  wife,  or  children, 
for  tlie  kingdom  of  God's  sake,  who  shall  not 
receive  manifold  more  in  this  present  time, 
and  in  the  world  to  come  life  everlasting." 
Luke  18:29-30. 

Seventh,  and  still  others  will  say,  "I  intend 
to  become  a  Christian  hut  not  now." 

The  Bible  time  is  now,  heaven's  time  is 
now,  the  true  penitent's  time  is  now,  but 
the  devil's  time  is  not  now.  Which  will  you 
choose? 

"Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow ;  for  thou 
[88] 


THE  PERSONAL  WORKER  AND  HIS  PROBLEMS 

knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth." 
Prov.  27:1. 

"He  that  being  often  reproved  hardeneth 
his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed  and 
that  without  remedy."     Prov.  29:1. 

"Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time;  be- 
hold now  is  the  day  of  salvation."  II  Cor. 
6:2. 

These  are  only  a  few  of  the  excuses  that 
the  personal  worker  will  hear  from  time  to 
time  as  he  tries  to  bring  men  into  the  light 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  It  is  interesting  to 
jot  down  other  excuses  that  you  will  hear  as 
you  come  in  contact  with  people  of  different 
feelings  and  temperaments. 

^'Therefore  they  that  were  scattered 
abroad,  went  about  preaching  the  word." 
Acts  8:4. 

''Go  ye  therefore,  and  make  disciples  of 
all  the  nations."    Matt.  28 :19. 

THE   END 

[89] 


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